Amendment 77 Approved, Betting Limits At Colorado Casinos Will Be Up To Black Hawk, Central City & Cripple Creek
(CBS4) - Colorado could see more types of casino games and higher bet limits now that voters statewide have approved Amendment 77. It allows voters in the gaming towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek to change or remove betting limits at casinos. Previously, if casinos in Colorado wanted to raise the limit on how much people can bet, the whole state had to approve it. The cap in Colorado is currently $100.
ELECTION RESULTS: See updated results from the 2020 general election in Colorado
Amendment 77 also allows the gambling towns to approve new casino games. Additional revenues would go to community colleges.
The economies of the three communities have been hit hard by COVID-19 and supporters say the measure will help with job creation. But Jeff Hunt, director of Colorado Christian University's Centennial Institute, told CBS4 over the summer he thinks it's not right for someone to lose their house in a single bet.
"Casinos are going to make a lot more money off the backs of Colorado families suffering from addiction," he said.
David Farahi, CEO of Monarch Casino and Resort, told CBS4 he wants to stop gambling addicts, too.
"We have a responsibility regardless of the bet limit to help identify people who are gambling irresponsibly," he said.
Farahi says the measure is about keeping tax revenue in Colorado, "By no stretch of the imagination are we thinking that everyone is going to stop going to Las Vegas. But if we can get some portion of those people to stay and play in Colorado, it benefits the whole state."
Read the bill text.